How much does it cost?

From £1,959 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,646 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Eurostar from London St Pancras and rail travel within Germany are included in the class you choose, but the £1,959 from-price is for joining at Gotha and leaving at Dresden without that portion.

Is it escorted or independent?

Escorted, with the services of an experienced Railtrail Tour Manager.

Which trains are used?

The tour rides the Fichtelbergbahn steam railway to Oberwiesenthal, the narrow-gauge Weisseritztalbahn to Kipsdorf, the Kirnitzschtalbahn tramway at Bad Schandau, the Zittau narrow-gauge steam railway, two main-line steam journeys from Dresden, and Dresden's suspended monorail.

What hotels are included?

One night at the Hotel Am Tierpark in Gotha and six nights at the InterCity Hotel in Dresden.

The only listed departure is in April 2027.

What is not included?

The base price excludes rail travel to and from Germany, available from £2,225 to £2,425 depending on class, and there is a £180 single traveler supplement.

Railtrail Tours · Steam & Heritage Rail Tour

Dresden Steam Festival & More 2027

Eight-day escorted steam railway tour through Saxony from London

Railtrail Tours runs this eight-day steam and heritage rail tour through Saxony, Germany, timed around the Dresden Steam Festival. The trip starts in Gotha with a visit to the Arnstadt Loco Shed, then settles into the InterCity Hotel in Dresden for six nights while day trips reach out by steam train: the Fichtelbergbahn climbs into the mountains to Oberwiesenthal, the narrow-gauge Weisseritztalbahn runs to Kipsdorf through woodland, and the Zittau railway crosses a mountain range with a simultaneous two-train departure at Bertsdorf. A Railtrail Tour Manager leads the group throughout, and the trip also includes two main-line steam journeys, the Kirnitzschtalbahn tramway at Bad Schandau, and Dresden's suspended monorail. Activity level is listed as Active, with train transfers, loco shed and museum tours, and a walk to a waterfall. The tour suits repeat rail travellers and railway enthusiasts more than first-timers looking for a gentle city break.

What to know before you look closer

The £1,959 from-price is for joining at Gotha and leaving at Dresden; Eurostar and rail travel from London costs extra, from £2,225 to £2,425 depending on class, so the headline price does not include getting to and from Germany.
Only one departure is listed, for April 2027.
The route for the day 5 main-line steam journey from Dresden has not been finalized; the operator describes it as to be announced nearer the time.
A £180 single traveler supplement applies, and the Night Photo Parade is an additional, on-request cost not yet priced.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Hotel am Tierpark, Gotha
London to Gotha
Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards to Gotha for our overnight stay at the Hotel am Tierpark where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.
Day 2railovernight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Arnstadt Loco Shed & Dresden
After breakfast this morning, we will make our way to the Arnstadt for a fascinating guided tour of the Loco Shed before continuing onwards to Dresden. Here, we will use our included transport day ticket to explore the beautiful city of Dresden including a ride on the unusual, suspended monorail, one of the oldest suspension railways and a marvellous example of engineering and construction, plus the superb single-track funicular railway. This evening, we check-in for our six-night stay at the InterCity Hotel where we enjoy our evening meal together.
Day 3overnight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Fichtelbergbahn to Oberwiesenthal
After breakfast this morning, we travel to Cranzahl for an exhilarating return ride behind steam on the Fichtelbergbahn, a steeply graded route climbing into the mountains and crossing the mighty 110m long, 23m high Hüttenbach viaduct to the highest town in Germany, Oberwiesenthal, situated at 3,000ft. Here, we enjoy a guided tour of the locomotive shed before retracing our steps to Dresden for an evening at leisure.
Day 4railovernight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Weisseritztalbahn & Transport Museum
This morning, a short local train ride takes us to Freital-Hainsberg where we join the steam-hauled service over the Weisseritztalbahn for a nostalgic ride on the oldest narrow-gauge railway in public operation along a narrow gorge, through woodland, and past lakes to Kipsdorf. Afterwards, we enjoy a visit to the Dresden Transport Museum for an exciting journey back in time with walk-in carriages and locomotives to explore allowing us to soak in the atmosphere of past times.
Day 5railovernight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Main-line steam & Dresden Steam Festival
Today, we experience an exhilarating main-line, steam-hauled journey from Dresden main station (details and route will be announced nearer the time). An entrance ticket to Dresden Steam Festival is also included where we enjoy fascinating displays, informative presentations, model trains, historic and modern locomotives, and much more plus many railway societies will have stands here to explore. There is an option to visit the Night Photo Parade at an additional cost (TBC), on request only.
Day 6railovernight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Bad Schandau & Kirnitzschtalbahn
Today, we experience another breathtaking main-line steam journey before travelling by rail along the banks of the Elbe to Bad Schandau. From here, we take a ferry across the river to ride the bucolic Kirnitzschtalbahn tramway running along country lanes and through the valley of the Kirnitzch River to the beautiful Lichtenhainer Wasserfall before returning to Dresden in time for our evening meal together.
Day 7railovernight: InterCity Hotel, Dresden
Zittau narrow-gauge railway
Today, we travel by rail to Zittau for a day of exploring the beautiful mountain range on a narrow-gauge, steam-powered railway. We enjoy a guided tour of the Bertsdorf locomotive shed and journey through charming landscapes to Jonsdorf and Oybin offering many scenic and historic attractions including the unique spectacle of a simultaneous departure of two steam trains at Bertsdorf.
Day 8rail
Homeward to London
We bid farewell to Dresden and to Germany, returning by rail to Brussels, where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The group rides Dresden's suspended monorail, one of the oldest suspension railways, using an included transport day ticket.
Day 3The Fichtelbergbahn steam train climbs into the mountains, crossing the 110m long, 23m high Hüttenbach viaduct, to reach Oberwiesenthal, the highest town in Germany at 3,000 feet.
Day 5A main-line steam-hauled journey from Dresden main station is followed by entry to the Dresden Steam Festival, with historic and modern locomotives, model trains, and railway society stands.
Day 7At Bertsdorf, two steam trains depart simultaneously on the Zittau narrow-gauge railway, described as a unique spectacle.

Included

7 nights bed & breakfast plus 3 evening meals
Eurostar and rail travel to and from Germany in the class of your choice
All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,959 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,646 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Eurostar from London St Pancras and rail travel within Germany are included in the class you choose, but the £1,959 from-price is for joining at Gotha and leaving at Dresden without that portion.
Is it escorted or independent?: Escorted, with the services of an experienced Railtrail Tour Manager.
Which trains are used?: The tour rides the Fichtelbergbahn steam railway to Oberwiesenthal, the narrow-gauge Weisseritztalbahn to Kipsdorf, the Kirnitzschtalbahn tramway at Bad Schandau, the Zittau narrow-gauge steam railway, two main-line steam journeys from Dresden, and Dresden's suspended monorail.
What hotels are included?: One night at the Hotel Am Tierpark in Gotha and six nights at the InterCity Hotel in Dresden.
When does it run?: The only listed departure is in April 2027.
What is not included?: The base price excludes rail travel to and from Germany, available from £2,225 to £2,425 depending on class, and there is a £180 single traveler supplement.